The Intriguing Case of Flock Safety and Mayor Ulises Cabrera
In a dramatic turn of events last year, Flock Safety, a police surveillance company known for its license plate recognition technology, hired Ulises Cabrera, the part-time mayor of Moreno Valley, California. This partnership took a surprising twist when Cabrera filed a lawsuit against Flock, claiming wrongful termination partly due to his refusal to leverage his mayoral position for the company’s benefit.
- Flock Safety’s impressive $3.5 billion valuation is backed by Andreessen Horowitz.
- The company recently expanded into drone technology.
- Cabrera’s lawsuit shines a light on the potential influence of private companies on elected officials.
“Disturbing to see claims that this company would pressure staff to unethically misuse a government position,” said Albert Fox Cahn, founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project.
{TechCrunch}
Cabrera’s role at Flock as a Community Engagement Manager involved guiding law enforcement customers through the public procurement process. His duties also included presenting Flock’s technology at city council meetings in areas beyond his jurisdiction. However, just two weeks into his tenure, Cabrera alleges he received a request from a Flock employee to use his mayoral position for the company’s advantage. Concerned about ethical and legal implications, Cabrera sought legal counsel and faced alleged retaliatory behavior thereafter.
The controversy deepens as Cabrera also claims he faced retaliation for voicing concerns over underreported surveillance cameras in Carmel-by-the-Sea and alleges sexual harassment by a Flock employee. These allegations add fuel to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Flock’s business practices.
This lawsuit is not an isolated incident for Flock. Earlier this year, they were sued by a civil rights organization over Fourth Amendment violations. The Texas Department of Public Safety also issued a cease and desist order for operating without proper licensing in private spaces. Despite these challenges, Flock maintains that their hiring practices comply with California conflict-of-interest regulations and categorically denies all allegations made by Cabrera.
As the legal proceedings unfold, this case not only raises questions about the ethical boundaries between public office and private enterprise but also highlights the broader issues within the American surveillance industry.
